Our Philosophy teacher once told us that, Humans are tempted to do evil things because it is pleasurable at first. However, they realize that it is bad to do so because of the consequences that will ensue.
The first Sunday of Lent features the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness to spend forty days and forty nights of fasting. During that time, Satan approached Jesus and tempted him in three ways. In each temptation, Satan sought to lure Jesus away from God’s will and from his mission on earth. However, Jesus resisted all the temptations by relying on the Word of God. This demonstrates the importance of the Scriptures in resisting temptation and remaining faithful to God. The temptation of Jesus also shows his humanity and his divine nature. As a human being, Jesus experienced hunger, fatigue, and vulnerability. However, as the son of God, He remained steadfast in his faith and commitment to God’s will. To be tempted is part of our being human. Everyday, we face different kinds of temptations. As a seminarian, I too encounter different kinds of temptations that hinder my spiritual growth, but the formation I am receiving and my listening to the word of God help me to cultivate healthy spiritual practices and overcome the temptations that I face in my life. Temptation is not a sin but an opportunity for sin. It is a test of our faith and a challenge to our commitment to God. It is also an opportunity to rely on God’s will in order to grow in our faith.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, this is an invitation and a lesson for each one of us; to remain faithful to God. We may face different kinds of temptations in our everyday life but let us remember that the word of God is powerful. Instead of falling into temptation; let us trust and rely on God.
